thistlechaser (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thistlechaser) wrote2012-12-25 03:43 pm
thistlechaser) wrote2012-12-25 03:43 pm
Entry tags:
Food update: Bacon and turkey
Two great tastes that taste great together... usually.
On the bacon I posted about last week: I looked at the package and instead of seeing the individual slices, it looked like it had melted and they had run together, so I tossed it out without opening to sniff it. I suspect I saved my nose.
On the turkey I made today. Positive things: I didn't burn my apartment down. I didn't even set off the smoke alarm. I didn't undercook it. It cooked mostly fine without a roasting pan (the skin it was resting on was pale and nasty, though that's no surprise). Negative: I overcooked it a little, so it was dry. It was also tasteless (which isn't surprising, as it only had spices on the skin).
Lessons learned: Why in the world did I buy a whole turkey breast? I don't like leftovers even when something's really good, and how rare is it for me to make something really good? I feel horrible for wasting food, but I know I won't touch this turkey again. I wish I at least had a dog to give it to or knew where a stray one was. First the whole chicken, now the turkey breast. I'm one person who doesn't like leftovers! Stop buying such big things, me!
Additional lesson: I can bake (roast? whatever) meat in the oven! I've always been really scared to do so, because it might not cook all the way through. Small cuts I was fine with, but things like a whole chicken I never wanted to do.
Ellie, who usually has no use at all for people food, actually ate two pieces of the turkey.
Next year I'm going to stick with the frozen dinners or going out or something. My mother is a firm believer that I should "cook something special" at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but not everyone can cook. If I do try again, I'm going to get a much, much, much more reasonable sized thing.
On the bacon I posted about last week: I looked at the package and instead of seeing the individual slices, it looked like it had melted and they had run together, so I tossed it out without opening to sniff it. I suspect I saved my nose.
On the turkey I made today. Positive things: I didn't burn my apartment down. I didn't even set off the smoke alarm. I didn't undercook it. It cooked mostly fine without a roasting pan (the skin it was resting on was pale and nasty, though that's no surprise). Negative: I overcooked it a little, so it was dry. It was also tasteless (which isn't surprising, as it only had spices on the skin).
Lessons learned: Why in the world did I buy a whole turkey breast? I don't like leftovers even when something's really good, and how rare is it for me to make something really good? I feel horrible for wasting food, but I know I won't touch this turkey again. I wish I at least had a dog to give it to or knew where a stray one was. First the whole chicken, now the turkey breast. I'm one person who doesn't like leftovers! Stop buying such big things, me!
Additional lesson: I can bake (roast? whatever) meat in the oven! I've always been really scared to do so, because it might not cook all the way through. Small cuts I was fine with, but things like a whole chicken I never wanted to do.
Ellie, who usually has no use at all for people food, actually ate two pieces of the turkey.
Next year I'm going to stick with the frozen dinners or going out or something. My mother is a firm believer that I should "cook something special" at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but not everyone can cook. If I do try again, I'm going to get a much, much, much more reasonable sized thing.
no subject
I've seen pork ones around, too. They're extremely tasty and a very reasonable size, and easy to slice for a day or so of sandwiches or to toss into salad. My dad's parents are older and can't eat a whole lot, and that's what they've had for most of their holiday dinners now that it's just the two of them back in WI. (They also do a bit of lamb sometimes, but I digress. Mmmm.)
Anyway: one of those, a box of five minute stuffing, some microwave steamer veggies, and you've got a good, easy, hard to mess up meal. :) Alternate suggestion: pick up a box of uncooked chicken cordon bleu from the freezer section. /Totally/ counts as cooking.
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Those uncooked chicken cordon bleu rock. I keep some in my freezer all the time! Or the other kind too, chicken... kiev? is it? Full of butter-garlic sauce. Mmmm.
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As far as turkey goes, it's easy to get it wrong. I tend to find that if it's nicely moist, that's because it's not fully cooked. Roasting meat is actually one of the easiest ways to cook it, though - preheat oven, calculate time, add meat, wait for alarm, eat.
Over here, you can get pre-made roasting thingies, where they give you the prepared meat in a foil tray you can just sling in the oven for the time it tells you on the side of the box. We can get all sorts of things like that - not just plain breast joints, but fancy stuff too. You should be able to get something similar, or at least I hope so. Costs a little more, but saves the hassle and usually comes out beautifully. We've got a turkey crown, de-boned and pre-stuffed, in the freezer right now. (It was supposed to be for yesterday, but flu.)
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Hope you feel better soon!
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You're lucky that Ellie has no desire for people food. I've been around too many pets who would steal food from people...
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no subject
Even if you overshoot on temperature (target turkey temp = 170degF), the turkey stays tender and very moist. Works for all poultry I've tried, and basically idiot-proofs roasting them (oops left it in for an extra 30 min, still good!).
As for roasting, rub skin with spices (I use salt and black pepper or creole spice mix) and liberally coat with olive oil. Roast at 400 for 20min, then 325 for 2-2.5hr (for breast, 3-3.5hr for whole turkey)
My roast turkey is legend among friends and family, and I mean it quite literally. Family that doesn't like me (all but my wife) fights over who gets me for the holidays because of my bird.
no subject
Sounds like you make a mighty good turkey though! If I ever make another, I'll try it that way.